The contracting authority is purchasing on behalf of other contracting authorities: no

Section II.B: Object of the contract (Supplies or services)

II.1)Title attributed to the contract by the contracting authority:

Indemnity Partner for the Compulsory Acquisition of Manston Airport and subsequent investment in the Airport's development.

II.2)Type of contract and place of delivery or of performance

Service category No 3: Air transport services of passengers and freight, except transport of mailRamsgate, Kent.

NUTS code UKJ4

II.3)Information on framework agreement

II.4)Short description of nature and quantity or value of supplies or services:

This prior information notice (PIN) is to instigate a soft market testing exercise and does not constitute a call for competition to procure any goods, services or works for the Thanet District Council (TDC) and TDC is not bound to accept any proposals offered.
TDC is undertaking a soft market testing exercise to help it determine whether there are suitable indemnity partners for the compulsory acquisition of Manston Airport and subsequent investment in the Airport's development.
Thanet District Council does not own or operate the site, which is owned by a third party. The Airport closed and ceased operation as an Airport on 15.5.2014.
Under planning powers TDC could apply for a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) however, if successful in this application, TDC would incur significant costs which would have to be met by the identification of suitably qualified indemnity partner, to underwrite and meet all costs incurred by the Council, should it pursue a CPO course of action. Following any compulsory acquisition of the site TDC would additionally expect that any identified indemnity partner would make significant investment with a long term business plan to deliver a viable and sustainable airport operation.
It is imperative that TDC understands the viability of both regeneration and sustainability of continuance of the site operating as an airport. TDC seeks to ascertain information as to availability of experienced and interested indemnity partners to support any CPO action to ensure it is a feasible course and delivers requirements, ensuring the public interest is met.
Therefore, in responding to this SMT exercise interested parties must provide external perspectives, ideas and advice on scope of operation and challenge, to enable TDC to better understand and assess relevant market interest and capability of supporting this course of action.
It is anticipated that this initial soft market testing exercise will inform a final outcome report produced by TDC which will cover four key areas of enquiry:
1. Assessing capability of the market place to deliver the requirements;
2. Assessing whether there is an established market to deliver and an adequate number of operators;
3. Assessing the capacity of the market to deliver the requirements;
4. Assessing the feasibility and cost viability of any proposed action going forward.
The soft market testing process will be conducted in three phases:
1st Phase: Participants must register interest via email to: procurement@thanet.gov.uk providing contact and organisational details. The Deadline to register interest is 14:00 hrs 9.2.2016 (3 clear working days before the deadline for submission). Please note that requests to participate received after the deadline will not be considered as part of this SMT exercise.
2nd Phase: Following registration further information will be provided, which will include a number of structured questions, contained in a questionnaire. Questions posed to operators in the market are to ascertain interest, capacity and capability within the market. Completed Questionnaires must be emailed to: procurement@thanet.gov.uk The Deadline for submission of questionnaires is 14:00 hrs 12.2.2016. Please note that questionnaires received after the deadline will not be considered as part of this SMT exercise.
3rd Phase: This phase may involve some face to face sessions with operators. The arrangements for the delivery of this phase are currently under discussion and will be dependent on the number of operators that respond to the structured questions in the 2nd phase. If this phase is progressed it is anticipated this will be undertaken week commencing 15.2.2016.
Note: To register your interest in this notice and obtain any additional information please visit the myTenders Web Site at http://www.myTenders.org/Search/Search_Switch.aspx?ID=168930

Lots

This contract is divided into lots: no

II.5)Common procurement vocabulary (CPV)

63731000, 45213331, 45235100

II.6)Scheduled date for start of award procedures

1.4.2016

II.7)Information about Government Procurement Agreement (GPA)

The contract is covered by the Government Procurement Agreement (GPA): yes

II.8)Additional information:

Important information:This Prior Information Notice (PIN) is issued solely for the purpose of conducting a soft market testing exercise and does not constitute any commitment by TDC to undertake any public procurement exercise in the future.TDC is not liable for any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any party participating in the soft market exercise.Interested parties will not be prejudiced by any response or failure to respond to the soft market testing exercise and a response to this PIN does not guarantee any invitation to participate in this soft market testing exercise or any future public procurement process that TDC may conduct.TDC is under no obligation to follow up this soft market testing in any way or with any interested parties.TDC has provided a fixed point of contact for this soft market testing exercise as set out within this PIN and interested parties must not to contact any other individual officer, member at TDC or any of its other advisors. TDC is committed to ensuring fairness, openness and transparency, and to follow EU procurement regulations.It is understood and accepted by participants that the use of a soft market testing process is for contracting authorities to have a better understanding of the likelihood of generating a competitive response to requirements.